Longhorns' Jammer, Williams could go in top five selections

TWO FOR TEXAS

Published 5:30 am, Monday, April 15, 2002

No one can blame Texas cornerback Quentin Jammer and offensive tackle Mike Williams if they suffer brain lock before they finally discover where they will begin their NFL careers.

Jammer, a Texan who grew up in Angleton, and Williams, a California native, have been the subjects of so much pre-draft speculation they're counting down the days until commissioner Paul Tagliabue calls their names.

Unlike soon-to-be Texans quarterback David Carr, who can sleep at night knowing he's guaranteed of being the first player selected, Jammer and Williams must be insomniacs as they listen to rumors and reports swirling around the country:

·Jammer could be the second player drafted behind Carr if the Carolina Panthers determine they're so desperate for a cornerback they have to pass on home-grown defensive end Julius Peppers.

·Jammer could be the third player drafted because cornerback is the Detroit Lions' most pressing need.

·Jammer could fall to the sixth spot and be taken by the Cowboys, which would cost him a couple of million dollars but would allow him to play in his home state.

·Williams was supposed to be the fourth player drafted, but the Buffalo Bills solved their problem at tackle by signing Broncos free agent Trey Teague.

·Williams could be going to San Diego because the Chargers have the fifth pick and they're desperate for a tackle, but they might be one of the few teams that rates him behind Miami's Bryant McKinnie.

"I really have no preference; I just want to be drafted in the top five," Jammer says. "I'd like to be the first defensive back drafted. That's been a goal of mine."

Barring a major surprise, Jammer will be the first defensive back drafted. Williams, meanwhile, knows he'll be the first or second tackle chosen.

"I've been told I'll go somewhere in the top 20," Williams says. "I try not to get caught up in what people say. I don't want to catch myself getting a big head. I just want to stay humble."

It's not hard for Jammer and Williams to be humble, even though they're perfect prospects in almost every way.

Jammer would have been the first defensive back drafted if he had left the Longhorns after his junior year. No defensive players were among the top 19 picks last year. By staying in school for his senior season, Jammer improved his position and will earn millions more.

"I wanted to go back to school to make my mom proud, to be with my teammates another season and to get closer to my degree," Jammer says. "When I made my decision to return, I surrounded myself with my friends and family, and they all wanted me to stay at Texas. But, truthfully, it was mostly my mom.

"Besides, my junior year was my first at cornerback after playing safety. By going back to school, I got a lot more experience at cornerback.

"I worked on my footwork. I had to learn to become more patient. Basically, I just had to get better at the position. I feel like I've just scratched the surface with my ability. And I know I still have a lot to work on because I'm always trying to get better."

Fortunately for the Longhorns and their fans, Jammer never worried about the risk of injury by returning to Austin for his senior year. He wanted to win the Big 12 and then help them win the national championship.

"The greater the risk, the greater the reward," he says. "I was rewarded by coming back and being able to spend another great year with my teammates. I really enjoyed last season."

Jammer is a shade less than 6 feet and weighs 204 pounds. He ran the 40 in the 4.4s at the Longhorns' workout day for scouts.

"I bring a lot of things to the table," Jammer says. "I'm a lockdown cornerback. I also can be a great safety. I have great character. I won't be a problem to a team. I stay out of trouble."

Except on the field, where Jammer is nothing but trouble on receivers. Most scouts say he's the classic shutdown cornerback, one who has the size, strength, speed and attitude coaches love.

When he's asked to describe his demeanor on the field, the soft-spoken Jammer smiles and says, "mean."

"Well, by that, I mean aggressive," he says. "I take my aggression out on the receiver. I don't talk much trash. I just play. And I play hard."

Jammer is aware cornerbacks have a reputation for covering, not hitting. He likes to do both.

"I think that carried over from my safety background," he says. "I always love to hit. That's what I like about football -- you get to pop people."

When Jammer is asked what he's like off the field, he says: "It's like night and day, unless you rile me. Then I can be mean off the field, too.

"I'm a pretty cool guy off the field. I'm real easygoing. It takes a lot to get me riled up."

Getting Jammer riled up is one thing, but getting Williams in that frame of mind is something else. At 6-6 and 374 pounds, Williams can cause a lot of trouble if he sets his mind to it. Fortunately, he stays under control off the field.

"My mind-set is to dominate whoever I touch," Williams says. "So God bless my teammates if I touch one of them because he's going to get it, too. That's the level I expect to play at in every game."

Although Williams won't be drafted as high as former teammate Leonard Davis, selected second overall by Arizona last season, many scouts believe he's a better prospect. They say Williams is more athletic than Davis, who played left tackle at Texas and was moved to left guard by the Cardinals.

"Leonard's a good guy who's been a good inspiration for me," Williams says. "He told me to keep a smile on my face, and you'll be fine."

Williams has been asked many times how a team with Davis and him at tackle didn't accomplish more.

"It's a team game," he says. "It's not about bookends. No matter what kind of talent you have up front, the quarterback, the running back, the receivers, the line -- everyone -- has to do their job."

Some teams want to move Williams to left tackle. At Texas, he played on the right side to protect the blind slide of lefthanded quarterback Chris Simms.

"It just depends on what the team wants," he says. "I'm fine with it. The left tackle generally has to play in space. He doesn't have the tight end to help him. I've played in space before. I know what it's like to be on an island. Wherever they want me, I'll be there."

In September, Williams suffered what some NFL doctors called a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. Other doctors called it a hyperextended knee. No matter the diagnosis, Williams played the entire season and went through every drill the scouts put him through in the offseason. He says it's not a problem.